Gaming & Culture —

Sony Connect to be disconnected

Sony Connect is getting the axe as Sony directs more of its resources towards …

According to Paid Content, Sony plans to close its SonyConnect music and video store in the next few months. Connect, which works
similarly to iTunes, allows users to download music and video content to Sony's
line of media players and to the PSP. Sony plans to phase out around 20 jobs as part of the closure.

The restructuring is a result of Sony's decision to turn the focus of the 80 remaining Connect employees to its PlayStation brand of products, although the eBooks division will remain. The move could also foreshadow plans to release video and music to the PS3 and PSP through the PlayStation Store. The PS3 already has HDMI support and the ability to stream from a PC, so offering HD video content is plausible and could be the unannounced focus of the remaining members of the Connect group. The move would also allow Sony to better compete against the rival XBox Live Video store, which already offers HD programming and music.

There's also no word on how previously purchased DRM tracks will run after the service shuts down, but hopefully the SonicStage software will still be able to play music and video as long as it's installed on your machine, although Sony has made no official pronouncements.